KNUNK

Popeye 2

2012-01-31T16:26:00.000-08:00

Trying for a straight Popeye. Done before the ones below to learn about his cool shapes.

With texture even.

Popeye

2012-01-31T12:37:00.000-08:00

I took the time off typing to doodle today. Popeye is great fun.

Sad fellow

2012-01-20T00:54:00.000-08:00

Drawing in Sketchbook Pro is a joy. I'd forgot.

Time off

2012-01-19T23:41:00.000-08:00

Having a few days break. Pushing on with my new years resolution to draw again/more.

Happy New year

2012-01-04T04:34:00.000-08:00

Bit late....but have a Fart-tastic New Year!

Radio Times

2011-12-09T10:40:00.001-08:00

Here's Fleabers and the guys in the Radio Times. We had our first hate tweet the other day. "CITV sinks to a new low". It's not even on telly yet! No such things as bad publicity as they say. Even if they use a really early image.
Face palm as my teenage son would say.

Fleabag airdate

2011-12-05T06:54:00.001-08:00

Deliveries chug along. Everyone thats seen the show so far loves it. Hopefully the kids will. Fleabag Monkeyface airs on CITV 19th December at 4.30.

Thumbnails

2011-11-13T08:39:00.001-08:00

Really small drawings!

I think if you direct, the very least you should do is thumbnail what you want. A black pen and a marker....great fun!
The first shows have been delivered anyway. That will continue now into the new year.

x

Singapore

2011-10-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

Maveric, Changboon and John

Im back from a great trip to Sparky animation and Terafire in Singapore. Thanks to KC and the Team at Sparky, and my new pal John Kuek at Terafire for looking after me and Jon. Maveric and Changboon also pictured. Great foley work guys!

I didn't get the name of the guy above but he was crazy good.

A lot of things were resolved in the days spent in the sound studio. I love doing the sound. Tweaking levels and timing until you don't hear a sound effect but only your characters moving and living in their environment. It always amazes me how nailing the sound can suddenly snap your characters into being. Theres still minor tweaks but they are pretty much nailed. MIP next week... I think FB will make a big impact.

We're in the news...

2011-09-22T03:15:00.000-07:00

In the news...well, a picture anyway.

Linkage

My office

2011-09-10T03:32:00.000-07:00

Its very wide as you see, and I've got a new Chris Wayles. Awesome fellow. Eyes of a hawk and better hand writing than me apparently. End of this month I'll be away to Singapore to start post. It'll be good to meet our Singaporean chums.

2011-08-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

Im heading out for a mid series break. One week of sun. I think I may need a recharge but its hard to drag my self away. We now have Chris Wayles on the team covering for me while Im off and assisting me for the rest of the production. So pleased we got Chris on board. The man knows his onions.

Animation is coming through now, the folks at Sparky are doing amazing work. Hard to believe the quality. Set-up renders came through yesterday also. We were all flawed.
Pictures are from my diary...I draw during our meetings then struggle to find space to write for the rest of the week.

Also I have another unpublished blog on the backburner. I plan on taking six to eight storyboarding students on later in the year or new year. It'll be real world training and go through everything I can think of. It'll be free as the 6 or 8 will be guinea pigs. It'll last about 6 months I guess. Students will have to apply and must be able to draw well. I don't want to jump the gun so don't submit yet. Just a little heads up. I'll tell you more closer to the time. The blog will obviously be free to all so any notes or material will be there for the taking.

x

Title sequence

2011-07-24T03:16:00.000-07:00

I love directing this show. Its pretty all consuming. Even the stress is the good sort. More a buzz. The whole team feel it. The only downside is I don't draw anything. I draw pretty comprehensive story notes but that's about it. The rest of my time is spent checking storyboards, animatics, blocking and on Monday, animation! Which I'm very excited about.

Anyway.....Its Sunday.
Today I have to draw and paint concepts for the title sequence. It's my chance to play. Above is a nervous warm up self portrait. I'm kind of shocked how it came out. Don't let the tired glum old man deceive you though...I am having a ball.

But I am looking forward to a week in the sun.

x

New studio

2011-07-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

Its all done! We're all settling into the new studio and I'm happy in my lovely office. Above is a before and after shot. On my Mac is a Mick Harrison animatic. Ep015 actually. The shows zipping along. Lots of notes and emails and not enough drawing. Some great boards coming from the Saloon.

J

Hat 01

2011-06-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Long ago (just over 10 years) I started a website called hat01. I found this old link on my hard drive today.

This was the sketchbook section. Many great talents here, presenting a pick of their own personal favorite work.

Artists include

Ian Jackson

José Luis Ágreda

Paul Rivoche

Aidan Harte

Richard Bazley

Javier Olivares

take a look hat01

images above by Javier, Ian, Paul R and Paul S.

June already

2011-06-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Wheres the time going? Cartoon Saloon are doing amazing work on the show. Its tricky keeping up with notes on boards and animatics. Scene blocking is soon to begin too. Very excited, but really going to need my week in the sun come August.

Witch Hazel (nearly)

2011-04-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

A few minutes off from making notes. Don't tell anyone...

Ireland

2011-04-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

Im home after a lovely week at Cartoon Saloon in Kilkenny.
Above, the Fleabag Monkeyface storyboard crew. Mick, Alessandra, Daniel, Marten, Sean, Nuria, Me, Massi and Rosa. Think I got all that right.

Many thanks Paul, Nuria, Mick and Ale for a great week.

Thumb notes

2011-04-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm heading out to see the board team next week. So cranking through my thumb notes. Going through pens and paper at a pace. Huge apologies to the poor folks scanning them all in.

The show is getting more awesomer everyday!

Wib

2011-03-02T14:14:00.000-08:00

A long old day today. Coming home to this fella ended it well. Thanks to the lovely Wish films team.
My notes are done. Time to retire with the next episode of The Wire season 2.

Desks I have loved

2011-02-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

Headingly

Leeds

Chorlton - Fat City

Bury

Tottington

London

Manchester

I found a few pictures of some of the places I've sat over the years. There's been many others but its interesting to see these (?) ...my desk pre- Wacom and even pre-computer. The bottom one is where I'm sitting right now.

Fleabag week 2

2011-02-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

Two weeks into production for me and I'm in the groove. Fleabag is going to be a great show. Voices are amazing. The rig of the fella above is jaw dropping. Ive not seen such a thing for a TV show before. So blessed with the crew, and working with Mick Harrison is a total pleasure.

Also heres a little interview for the nice folks at the animation forum.

http://www.animationforum.net/interview-with-jez-hall/

Ignore the three decades thing... Im not that bloody old!

Saturday night doodles

2011-02-05T12:11:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to have stuff to post, I painted a few thumbnails from Night of the hunter. The top image I messed with too much not realising the drawings rubbish. So used it to push another image a little more. The bottom guy looks a little Clooney.

Fleabag Monkeyface

2011-02-05T03:55:00.000-08:00

Hi All. Above is my next directing job. Very excited to be working with some old friends and the guys at Impossible Kids. I start monday. Whoop!

Link

Home

2011-01-28T06:32:00.000-08:00

Im back from London for good. Many thanks to all the guys in the studio. I'll miss working with you all. Im back home to start directing a new show. Its all CG, which is new for me. Im really looking forward to diving into it. The image is a very old scribble of a chap with an arm on his lip. Nothing new I can show. Now to get used to life without the Cintiq.

NDAs kill blogging

2010-12-28T05:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas all.
Still not much to post as usual, thanks to strict non-disclosure agreements.
But heres two extreme close-ups I may get away with.
See you in the new year.

London and interview

2010-11-28T03:34:00.000-08:00

My lame post rate continues. I've been working in London for a while now on a cool new project but back home this weekend in a frosty Tottington. Panicking that Christmas is sneaking up on me again.
Cool news is that Toonhound has put up an interview I did for them a while ago http://www.toonhound.com/jez-1.htm. Many thanks to Frazer.

cheers

x

At last

2010-10-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

In my hands at last. The Wibbly Pig DVD!

Back at it

2010-10-01T03:29:00.000-07:00

A few cool things boiling. Not much to show though so heres a few old dev images. Also it looks like I'll be helping with boards out on Monstroville for Mr Von Kreep. Should be a lot of fun.

Lastly Wibbly Pig is out on DVD from the 18th October. Toys to follow!

Drink and Draw

2010-08-30T01:45:00.000-07:00

It was great to meet up with local artists last night. There's some real talent round here. Thanks Adam for the invite.
Image is old skype chat doodle.

Fresh start

2010-08-28T03:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a tough few months. A few life changing things have occurred. Thank you to my family and friends for dragging me through. I have some cool new work to keep me going, just need to get my mojo back. Time to draw.

Sketchbook rescue

2010-07-24T05:56:00.000-07:00

I finally found time to rescue some old drawings from my garage.

CS5

2010-06-05T02:56:00.000-07:00

My first drawings in CS5. Designs for another ethereal project for someone or other.

Animacor 09

2009-11-09T04:12:00.000-08:00

Hi
I'm back from Animacor 09. Many thanks to Antonio, Juan, Jordi, François, Ricardo, Tila, and Madeleine for being a great bunch of people to hang about with and Angel for the kind invitation.

I'm trying to get my head around work. We've a new show to get up and running and a heap of projects to prepare after Stu and Dans pitching success. Good lads!
I'm looking forward to working with my pal Vince James again on the new show.

Time off

2009-10-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hi All. Its been ages know. I'm nearly done on Wibbly just down to note making duties. The new show looks set to begin about now. I've been taking a few days off with lovely Claire. Great spending some quality time together. Sunday I fly out to Spain for Animacor’09. I've been invited to be on the Jury this year. I'm looking forward to meeting some new friends. If you're going I'll see you there.

Images are quick paints for a new film idea. You got to love the power of photoshop brushes!

I'll post again when I get back.

cheers

J

Wibbly Pig

2009-09-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know... that anyone with little ones should tune in to Cbeebies weekdays at 3.30pm (except Wednesdays) from Monday 7th September 2009 to see my little pal Wibbly Pig.

Other news

I have a new house. All modern and cool. This big old place is too much to look after. Time to move on.

A truly great summer has come to an end. Starting in Spain and ending in Brighton and the Reading festival. The highlight of which was the Prodigy.
Found time to paint some concepts for our upcoming short film before I went too. More of that in the future.

J
x

EDIT

Many thanks to Aaron at Cold Hard Flash for the nod.

LINK

Countdown to the beach

2009-08-11T00:29:00.000-07:00

Three days to go and we're off on our holidays. Spain with the boys, Claire and Ella. Then back home. Ditch children before heading down to Brighton. Last stop the Reading festival. Also selling/moving house, packing and working all at the same time. Wibbly Pig is going great. I've had to say goodbye to the first storyboard team Michelle and Peter and Marc Gordon. Thanks for the fantastic work folks.
I'll be working with Marc again soon hopefully. Wib is due to air via Cbeebies in the UK, TVO and Knowledge Network in Canada.

Other things are developing nicely. I'll hopefully step right into production on some cool new projects.

Images are from rejected designs for Nick.

Summer

2009-07-03T11:21:00.001-07:00

Its summer. A few months left of production. After this I'll be full time directing something else and developing a movie. Fingers crossed anyway. No idea what yet. Please don't give me the realistic one!!!!

Stu and Myself just got back from a trip to Dubai which was an amazing place. Its summer there...a lot! Thanks to Mr Adnan, Mr Haider and our new pal Omar, for looking after us so well. Omar is an outstanding fellow.

Anyway..a head. It's all I have right now. When things ease in to development, I'll be painting more, so hopefully will have pictures to show.

Drawing

2009-06-05T13:02:00.001-07:00

I don't think I've drawn so little in my life.
My night off tonight..... boys are with their mum, I have wine, a crap pen and lots of crap paper, neon bible on the stereo and a great great film on dvd with the sound turned off. .. (got some hula hoops too).

Here are some drawings as the film plays through.... just letting the pen do the work. I've tried to be as honest as I can and only ran one through photoshop.

Yes its the red one.

Also, some of you may know already I've become a partner/director in Freakishkid pictures. So me is now we. Website is up now http://freakishkid.com/. very exciting to work with the amazing talent that was Greykid pictures. Lots of great things to come.

Also been offered to direct a half hour film after Wibbly Pig. Something so cool I could burst.

Fingers are crossed it happens.

coffee shop bronco part 3 the return....this time in pen

2009-03-30T01:06:00.000-07:00

pen...spot blacks! Oof! Bottom fella has the same old photoshop blue thrown on.

coffee shop bronco part 2

2009-03-30T00:55:00.000-07:00

caffeine was kicking in i think..

Coffee shop bronco

2009-03-30T00:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a few while waiting for my train. Breaking in some new characters. cheap pens on cheaper paper.

Clucky grabs

2009-03-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

This is more fun.
Clucky grabs!

Dull

2009-03-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

Looks boring I know but it actually fun.... this is an animatic. 10 minutes worth, cut in a day and a half...ish. The tedious bit is scene numbering and typing in notes.

New Year already.

2009-01-09T09:17:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say hi. I'm still here
Above pick is a scribble from a cab ride a few weeks ago. Not much to show I know.
My pal Steve Horrocks has put a site up at last. Take a look http://www.stevehworks.com/

Show is marching on. Animation is full steam ahead and off-lines are coming through. Long way to go!

Have a great new year!

ink

2008-10-07T01:41:00.000-07:00

Heres a few more doodles from my travels. Got to keep my eye in. Spending most of my time typing emails.
I've not fiddled with them too much so you can see the ink.

Train doodles

2008-09-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Heres a few monkey doodles from one of my many train journeys. The grey tone was added later in PS. At the bottom are a couple of post it note pictures. I don't get much drawing time so I have to doodle when I can. These were done waiting for After Effects renders. I love my Pentel AQUASH pens. Yes... I am a brush pen geek!
Big hello and thanks to Ale and Alf . Amazing talents!

two out of ten

2008-09-03T06:08:00.000-07:00

We've been back a while now but me n Claire had a great time in barcelona. Went to Can Piaxano http://www.canpaixano.com
Very cool place. Drank too much Cava and ate too many sea creatures. Hotel 1898 was ace! Rooftop bar cost a few quid though.

Works going great. Heres a not very good drawing of Yoda for a CN idea I did a while ago. I made the huge mistake of drawing his saber the wrong colour. I'm surrounded by geeks!

Away again

2008-08-09T03:10:00.000-07:00

The show is going well, very busy in pre-production. Got some great people on board. Very exciting.
The shorts I was working on before this have been comped and done. Not seen all of them as yet but what I've seen is amazing. Nick want more. Which is great news but obviously I'll not be so involved with them.

Just catching up on some emails today then off to Barcelona. Again. Just can't get enough of the place.

When I'm back it'll be even more full on as the show gets into first gear. I wont be posting as much but anything cool crops up I'll put it here.

See you soon

Weetos

2008-07-08T02:21:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to see the Weetos ad on telly this morning. Nice.

Desk

2008-07-03T03:18:00.000-07:00

Its where I sit......all day long. Even when its really sunny, and there's lots of people in the park having fun.

Button

2008-06-17T23:36:00.000-07:00

I'm not exactly twiddling my thumbs but the shows prolonged start is dragging. Still crewing.

I've a couple of little design and board jobs going through. Above is our pal Dexter pressing a button. Not an unusual thing for him to do.

I've just watched the first two completed Nick shorts. Stu and his team have done an amazing job on these. They certainly look like the budget was a lot bigger than it was. I'm a little shocked to not have the usual feeling of crushing disappointment. I think they're great.

Anyway, hopefully they'll be airing soon so everyone can see them.

The sun and a daughter.

2008-06-10T04:04:00.000-07:00

Well done to Orsi and Stu on the arrival of Sienna-Marrie Elizabeth Gamble. Good work folks.
Still waiting on the show......Contracts as ever hold things up. The deadline sits there, unmoving. Got some nice design work going on though, so I'm keeping busy.
Drawing is a doodle done sitting by a river in the sun with my two boys. Its was a lovely day. Passers by must find it disappointing when they look over my shoulder and see something like that. They must expect some proper art. A water colour or something.

HB2Me

2008-05-25T00:38:00.000-07:00

I'm 41 today. Blimey! The pictures today all come from a mildly drunk drawing session. I've been working on a made up metal band as a back story for my friends new show. We're trying to give them a bit of depth even though they are very much BG characters. They look nothing like the images here but it's what happens mixing metal and merlot. To be honest I kind of re-discovered ELO that night too...and Boney M. Must be the strings! Hail Satan!

Face

2008-05-20T02:39:00.000-07:00

Heres another quick paint from last night. My phones got two camera things on it, one makes you more ugly than the other. Using the more ugly one you can look at yourself without taking a picture. This is what I was doing when I painted this face. I fiddled in PS a lot though to save my bad drawing. Very handy things phones.

Mr Gravy

2008-05-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

I drew Mr Gravy yesterday. Just a doodle while on the phone. This afternoon I drew a crappy version in Sketchbook pro. Drew a better skull, then stuck the better skull over crappy Mr Gravy and made something better.

NDA

2008-05-06T01:04:00.000-07:00

Hows a bloke supposed to put pictures up on his blog when he's not allowed to show anything? Start date is still impending. Voices being cast, musicians briefed.....board artists being contacted. I've been blocking stuff out for the first 2 shows. Its a nice change of pace from the shorts for Nick.
Comping is still going strong on the shorts. They are looking beautiful. I'm sure they'll create quite a buzz when they air.
The image is an un-used design for some Weetos commercials. I can see why they didn't go for it. Too much of a departure from the brief. The final designs are nice but these would have been lots of fun.
I got to draw Scooby Doo and Shaggy last week too. Great fun, but Scoobys legs are nuts.

first Mac drawings

2008-03-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

I'm loving my Mac. Somethings are very tricky to get my head around. I'm all thumbs at the moment. Drawings are quick dibbles for a mates show.

Clucky

2008-03-29T06:39:00.000-07:00

Stu from Greykid sent over a couple of final scenes for the shorts we've been making for Nick. I have to say they are looking amazing! Stu is doing the comping himself. Skill!
Heres a couple of tiny colour keys from the titles. I cant wait for them to air.

New toys

2008-03-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

Loooook!!
Cant believe how nice my new Mac is....and my new Wacom for that matter. Going to be tricky getting used to OSX after all these years in Windows land.
End of the month is approaching and trying to tie up freelance stuff. Looking forward to new things and hopefully making a few new friends.

78 Weeks

2008-02-28T08:09:00.000-08:00

Look at the size of that! The show I'm due to direct gets ever closer. I printed and taped the first draft of the schedule together this morning. Scary, yet exciting.

97 drawings in a day

2008-02-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

I actually did more than that but I binned the crap ones. Pictured aren't any of the 94 but the 30-something I did the next day. I was blasting as much as I could before my trip.
I'm working some more with my chums at Greykid so I'm not posting anything that'll get me into trouble.

Back from Barcelona

2008-02-21T12:01:00.000-08:00

Got back yesterday. Me and lovely Claire had a fantastic time. Crap being back.
While I was out there a grabbed a copy of the amazing Javier Olivares book "The Ono and Hop Chronicles". It further confirms his genius. Amazing stuff.
Also had a nosey at Sagrada Familia. Amazing place. I came away kind of wishing they'd left it alone though.

Paul Salmon

2008-01-29T01:41:00.000-08:00

Just a quick one about someone elses work instead of mine. My good pal Paul Salmon has come back to the freelance life after years in the wilderness. This makes me very happy. I met up with him last week for a pint. He's one of the best in the game. He needs stuff online so I'll bully him to get something up. Take a look at the above image. Paul was the guy who designed Count Duckulas castle by the way.

Cold Hard Flash

2008-01-28T23:26:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Aaron at the mighty Cold Hard Flash for letting me know the re-designed site is up (click the title). Great job Aaron!
I did some designs for Aaron late last year, some of which you can see by scrolling down the CHF page. Above is the image the new logo is taken from. You can see he was changed a little from this to be more bear-like. This is straight out of Flash.

Born in a barn

2008-01-15T06:58:00.000-08:00

Heres a few colour keys I've been doing on a new thing for some folks to be broadcast somewhere sometime fairly soon....whenever they're done. Hopefully when it airs I can post more stuff.
I've had fun on this show. I been doing boards, animatics, some design and these little colour key things.
I went down to Wish films the other day to see Will, Ian and the other Will. I had a fine day. I got rained on three times in one day though. I hope I didn't smell too damp.

08

2007-12-25T03:46:00.000-08:00

The end of another year. Lots of great things to look forward to in 2008, personally and professionally. All the best to you.

Greykid trip

2007-12-10T05:28:00.000-08:00

I'm back.
They let me go.
Pictured is "The red wall". Pray you never have to see it.
Bless the Greykid gang. I'm amazed by the work these guys are doing. I'm sure the new year will bring them even more success.

Check out the size of their monitors too.

Many thanks for the invite Guys!

BIMA win

2007-11-30T01:51:00.000-08:00

Safe and Sound won! In fact it won 3 times! Safe and Sound was shortlisted for Education and Training, Kids, and Government and Education, and scooped them all. Giving BBC, Channel 4, MTV, The Natural History Museum and the Ministry of Defence are good kicking! Yay us! Well done the lovely Stardotstar gang. Chuffed!

The Monster

2007-11-20T01:16:00.000-08:00

I was up too late and full of wine. I really should have gone to bed but I started messing in Sketchbook and Photoshop. I think its Frankensteins monster. Not sure about the blood splatter thing..bit cheesy.

Poser

2007-11-05T04:40:00.000-08:00

A few poses from my sketchbook. I had a day last week where I couldn't stop drawing these blokes. This is one of many sheets. This may turn out to be the funnyest cartoon ever made. Or might not.

Lens flare

2007-11-05T04:32:00.000-08:00

I had a look at One of the Skunk shows I boarded the other day. Had a look at half of it anyway. Very cool it was too. Beautiful BGs and animation.
Heres a board/final comparison picture. One of my fave shots. Hmmm...

Baby BIMA..ine

2007-10-17T01:18:00.000-07:00

I heard yesterday that the Safe & Sound project (I did with my chum guy and the boffins at Stardotstar) has been nominated for a BIMA award....in three categories. Whats a BIMA? Have a look here http://www.bima.co.uk/.
The picture is a reject design. They didn't pick him.

Scribble

2007-10-09T03:22:00.000-07:00

Early this morning, frustrated and tired, ratbird came along.

Metal

2007-10-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Works mad! I've a very long night ahead. I hate working hard. I want to retire now please. Somewhere sunny, where theres wine and food. And sun.
I'm full of coffee and coke. Hopefully I'm carrying enough fuel to get me through the night. Trouble is I have to do the same again tomorrow. Anyway a couple of days and it'll all be over. Drawings were done in record breaking time...mere seconds. Just now infact. I just had to write the word "metal" above them. When I drew the word "metal" I was shouting it really loud in an Arnie voice. Caffeines Ace! Wonder if the guitarist from Slayer would want to do a job share? Mess with me at your peril clients.

Oh....and I've been working on some cool projects recently. Hopefully I can post pictures from them soon.

Hail Satan anyway...cheers

Something else entirely

2007-10-04T05:34:00.000-07:00

Heres something else entirely. Doodles for my little show, and some hardcore sheep action.

There and back again

2007-10-04T05:20:00.000-07:00

I went down to London again. Great meeting up with Stu and the lovely Nickelodeon people. I thought I was busy until I talked to Stu. We ate lots of meat. Nice.
The day ended in Matt and Phreds back in Manchester. Very nice.

The image sums up my feelings of the last few weeks.

Costs too much and smells funny.

2007-09-10T03:52:00.000-07:00

Yes I'm back from London.

Apologies for not going to see anyone while I was there. I said I would but dint.
Great to see K, Sam, Will, Ian, Carl and my pal Si at the Parthenon party.
Over 13quid for 3 bottles of becks though!! Weep for them my northern brothers!

The train down was like a train from the future.... or France or something. I drew half a sketchbook of nonsense, thumbnailed 2 boards and read a few pages of Stranger in a strange land. Which at page 400 and something has taken a strange turn and lost me a bit.

Back to work today though. Emails and funny animals.

Pictures are doodles from the train.

Things

2007-08-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the lack of posts. Fun things are a foot. Working on a fun new thing with some nice folks I've not worked with before, and my own shows are starting to click. One in particular has just fallen into place. So I can get it together and get it out there.
I was out and about last week. Great seeing my chums at Stardotstar, Kilogramme and Firestep. Kilogramme and Firestep are now working together and have a joint reel. They are doing beautiful things.
Also dropped in to see my pal at studio Liddell. They are doing ace stuff on Roary the race car.

Punch

2007-07-16T05:49:00.000-07:00

I had a play around with the Punch and Judy characters yesterday. My friend Guy has a project he wants me to help with so I'm just researching really.
The Punch story is mental. He throws his baby out the window, then beats his wife to death. He kills a blindman, a policeman etc etc.....he even has a stick fight with the devil himself! No idea where a crocodile comes in. ...or sausages.

I dont know the direction my chum will be taking it as yet, but it would make a great short film.
Pictures are proper ink and Photoshop colour.

Guy I tried emailing but its playing up again. I'll get them over soon.

More sunshine

2007-06-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

The sunny pictures developed into BG ideas.

Bug

2007-06-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

I've got a bug in my head. Really! At least its dead now. I got in there at the weekend. Just flew right in without asking. I spent the afternoon screaming and pouring water into my ear to drown it. Its quite a strange feeling having something crawling inside your head. Anyway R.I.P little bug.
The nurse couldn't get it out, so there it stays until the ear pushes it out. Everytime I think about it in there I get all itchy.

40

2007-06-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

Works slow, I'm awaiting the start of a new series. Fingers crossed its not going to stall over contracts yet again. Why cant people get along eh?
Anyway heres a picture of me and my pal Charlie. I turned 40 in May. Mad!

Sunny gloom

2007-05-04T02:31:00.000-07:00

What a week.
I've been done with Skunk for some time now. Many thanks to the Cartoon Saloon guys.

Since then I've completed a pilot for someone. Not my project.
Anyway, it was done. My machine had output many gigs of targas ready to head off to the editors. When I get the call. "Are you sitting down"......I was. Turns out the producer wants to change one of the character designs. A design thats been okayed and signed off at every stage up until this point. Anyway I've 37 scenes that are okay and 21 scenes that have to be thrown out. Very depressing. It means more income but the idea of digging back into it makes me feel a bit sick.

Also my PS3 died last night. It lasted 5 weeks.

Also...
My pals at Star Dot Star are without a home. Their studio fell victim to the recent fire in Manchester. They are still working and are expecting to be up and running in a new space within the month. Glad you're all okay.

On a happier note. Safe and Sound has been nominated for (I think) 4 awards. Including a nomination for best animation at the bigchip awards. Fingers crossed.

I got my new machine too:) It’s got a window and a lime green light comes on when the fan spins!

Mint!

Images are a couple of Photoshop doodles from this morning.

Robotshaped robot shapes

2007-03-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

I was meant to be having a shave but I started doodling abstract shapes. As often happens. They turned into these robot type things. No idea why the guys not talking. Nothing to say I guess.

TB jab

2007-03-10T05:05:00.000-08:00

Thunderbirds aren't go.

Town Fox

2007-03-10T01:52:00.000-08:00

Heres some drawings that ended up as the paintings I posted here a while ago.

Stink

2007-03-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

With a sad heart I got my last Skunk board today. I'll miss the little stinker when he's gone.

Picture here is from my little project still being developed in any free time I don't have. I'm trying to slow the pace down with it. Longer scenes...more art.

Also two dogs from a from little short I plan to make.

Following on from my last post I've had a few concerned emails. Just to let folks know I'm not talking about Cartoon Saloon.

My fault for not making it clear, its seem obvious that folks would associate my comments with the Skunk Fu posts.

Apologies to the Skunk boys.

Respect

2007-02-09T02:21:00.000-08:00

Tell you what. I don't think its ever been this bad. Its not the work, there's plenty of that about. The problem is getting paid. Okay that was always a problem but this past few years its got worse and worse. Nobody wants to pay anymore! Its the same story for my freelance chums. All of them are owed money, huge amounts of money in some cases. Many of the folks are walking a financial tightrope. Growing overdrafts... remortgaging their houses.

Us freelancers are paid to do good work, on time. Frankly its insulting to wait 2 months then have to start begging for your money. I recently had work with a well known studio on a very cool show. The kind of thing you'd do cheap just to have it on your CV. Well I did do it for cheap. Very cheap. I gave them an awful lot for the paltry sum. They repaid me by making me wait 3 months then deducting tax and NI from me. I told them I couldn't conitnue because of this.

This stuff has almost brought me to my knees. I have kids and a house and bills too. I work like a bastard to give people my best. Look after your freelancers folks.

On a brighter note. My writer pal is free and has come on board to work with me on my own show. So its given me a push. Development on it has taken a jump forward. I think the look is getting there. The image above is some early development from it.

Skunkness

2007-01-16T16:03:00.000-08:00

The latest Skunk is done. It was a great script. Dont think I've pulled so many faces drawing a board.

Robots in disguise

2007-01-16T15:01:00.000-08:00

My Ex Mrs found this online for me today. Its one of my first comic covers done in the 80s. Its bloody terrible, but its great seeing it again. I haven't seen it since I drew it all those years ago. I remember being really nervous about it. I was only a young pup and those Marvel guys were like bearded gods. Bless them for letting a kid have a go.

2007

2007-01-01T08:44:00.000-08:00

Have a great year all!

Christmas doodles

2006-12-29T08:14:00.000-08:00

I couldn't stop drawing this fella over Christmas for some reason. Hope you all had a good one.

Bad.. Ass

2006-12-20T08:40:00.000-08:00

Just completed the first pass on the latest Skunk board. Skunk totally wigs in this show, he's nails! As is the chap above.

Christmas fear

2006-12-08T03:07:00.000-08:00

Christmas cheer

2006-12-08T03:05:00.000-08:00

Big telly

2006-11-23T23:43:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Gez at stardotstar for sending me this pic. The Aliens cartoon on the big screen in Manchester...cool!
This past week Ive had some fab design work to do. Loads of fun. I wish I could post them.

More old stuff

2006-11-13T12:18:00.000-08:00

Heres some more oldies. Colour notes from Wacky Woods this time. We made 3 pilots. One in India and two here. Still waiting on this one.
Wise Old Owl made me laugh. He's not wise, old or an Owl. He's a sheep in a tree.
Class!

Old stuff

2006-11-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

Heres a few colour notes I did ages ago. I wanted to go a bit lino print but the client chose a rougher style. Theres also a few ealy PS paintings for the same project and a BG idea. It was Lightwave and PS.... I never saw the final thing.

eep!

2006-11-09T23:23:00.000-08:00

Busy busy

Sorry for the long delay. I'm coming to the end of the latest Skunk board.
I've been having fun drawing Mr Fish below.

no new "proper" art so heres an old one of some trains.

chuf chuf...